By Leila B. Salaverria, Jocelyn R. Uy Philippine Daily Inquirer
Researcher Shruti Dave (R) and assistant Chetan Patel work on stem cell cultures at the Transplantation Biology Research Centre situated at The Institute of Kidney Disease and Research Centre (IKDRC), Civil Hospital campus in Ahmedabad on February 6, 2013. AFP FILE PHOTO
The late Rep. Erico Aumentado of Bohol province underwent stem cell therapy in Germany last September and felt like Superman before he died of pneumonia last Christmas at the age of 72, his son told the Inquirer on Monday.
Aris Aumentado, the incoming representative from Bohol, said his father felt better on his return from Germany that he got rid of his cane and wheelchair.
He was like Superman, he told reporters, a day after the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) issued a warning against the so-called xenogenic, or animal-based, stem cell therapy.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also said on Monday that Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo also underwent stem cell therapy before he died on April 24 at the age of 77, also of pneumonia.
Aris said his father was advised to rest after the German trip, but because he felt so good, he went around campaigning in his district. He said that before the procedure, his father had already suffered from thrombosis in his leg because his sugar could not be controlled.
The elder Aumentado also suffered bouts of pneumonia even before. It was pneumonia that caused his fathers death, Aris said, adding he did not think it was complications from the new therapy. His lungs were weak even before, he said.
Belmonte surmised that his two late colleagues were not the best candidates for the controversial procedure. The treatment may have given them a false sense of hope, he said.
PMA investigation
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Doctors probe deaths of 3 politicians after stem cell treatment